A memorial service will be held on Thursday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels for Alejandro Martinez, a recruit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who tragically lost his life last year after being struck by a wrong-way vehicle during training. After eight months of fighting severe injuries, Martinez, 27, passed away on July 28 at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood.
The service, scheduled for 10 a.m., will be presided over by Archbishop José H. Gomez. Law enforcement personnel from various local, state, and federal agencies will be in attendance to pay their final respects.
During the service at the cathedral, Training Bureau Capt. Patrick J. Macdonald, Sheriff Robert Luna, and Dayanna Martinez, the sister of the fallen recruit, are expected to deliver speeches to honor Alejandro’s memory.
Following the service, Martinez’s casket will be escorted out of the cathedral accompanied by a bagpipe performance, and a procession will proceed to Forest Lawn Covina Hills cemetery. The Sheriff’s Mounted Enforcement Detail, including a riderless horse, will join the procession. If weather permits, there will also be a flyover.
The announcement of Martinez’s death was made by the sheriff’s department on July 28.
The department stated, “On November 16, 2022, Alejandro was struck by a vehicle while training with his partners from Academy Class No. 464 and fought for his life for the past eight months. Today, Alejandro succumbed to his injuries.”
Surrounded by family, friends, Sheriff Luna, and other department members offering support, Alejandro has now found eternal rest. Unfortunately, he was unable to fulfill his calling of serving others.
“We extend our deepest condolences to Alejandro’s family, friends, and academy classmates. He will forever hold a place in our hearts and will never be forgotten. Words cannot express the extent of our gratitude towards everyone who assisted and continues to assist, helping ease the burden of that very difficult day.”
Janice Hahn, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, also paid tribute to Martinez.
Last month, Hahn tweeted, “Last year, when we started a new effort to recruit more LASD deputies, Alejandro Martinez answered our call. His passing, months after that terrible crash, is nothing short of a tragedy. My prayers are with his family, his friends, and his fellow recruits. May he rest in peace.”
The incident occurred when an SUV swerved into a group of approximately 75 law enforcement trainees who were on a scheduled run. It happened at around 6:30 a.m. in the 10600 block of Mills Avenue, near Telegraph Road, just a few blocks from the sheriff’s STARS Explorer Academy law enforcement training center in Whittier.
The recruits, running in columns northbound on the roadway, were struck by the southbound SUV, causing harm to numerous individuals. The crash resulted in injuries to 25 recruits, including Alejandro Martinez, as stated by sheriff’s officials at the time.
The driver who struck the cadets, Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22, of Diamond Bar, claimed that he fell asleep at the wheel. Gutierrez was arrested shortly after the crash but was released the following day as sheriff’s officials determined that further investigation was needed due to the complexity of the case.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
